Clock-controlled switch with drowse mechanism operable only in the auto position



Sept. 21, 1965 D. MORRISON ETAL CLOCK-CONTROLLED SWITCH WITH DROWSEMECHANISM OPERABLE ONLY IN THE AUTO POSITION 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May10, 1962 "'INVENTORS RALPH C. ROBINSON DAV D MORRISON D. MORRISON ETALSept. 21, 1965 3,207,865

CLOCK-CONTROLLED SWITCH WITH DROWSE MECHANISM OPERABLE ONLY IN THE AUTOPOSITION Filed May 10, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR-S RALPH C. RoemsoNDAVlD MORRISON United States Patent O 3,207,865 CLOCK-CONTROLLED SWITCHWITH BROWSE MECHANISM OPERAB'LE ONLY 1N THE AUTO POSITION David Morrisonand Ralph C. Robinson, Athens, Ga, assignors to General TimeOorporation, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed May 1%2,Ser. No. 193,796 3 Claims. (Cl. 200- 38) This invention relatesgenerally to clock-operated switch mechanisms, such as those found inclock radios and, more particularly, to devices of this type which alsoprovide a switch interrupting device sometimes referred to as a drowsemechanism.

A basic switch mechanism of this type is described in detail incopending application Serial No. 37,925, filed June 22, 1960, for aClock Controlled Switch, now Patent No. 3,068,331 issued December 11,1962. When ,such a switch is used with a clock radio, as an example, anadditional drowse mechanism permits the radio operating through theswitch to be temporarily interrupted for a convenient period, say 10minutes, during which the user may answer a nearby phone, or possiblygain an extra short period of rest before getting up. It has been found,however, that often the user of a drowse mechanism will leave thevicinity of the clock radio before the period of interruption is over,and the radio, at the end of that period, will resume playing-possiblywithout being heard or remembered for a long time. Repeated occurrencesof this type not only shorten the useful life of certain radio parts,but tend to irritate the user, thus diluting public acceptance of anotherwise useful product.

Experience has shown that a significantly greater tendency to forgetthat the radio is only temporarily interrupted exists when the radio wasoriginally turned on manually, as compared to when the radio comes onautomatically by means of the clock. In other words, it seems that whenthe user sets the controls for manual operation, subsequently operatesthe drowse mechanism, and then leaves the room for some reason, he islikely to forget about the radio entirely. The existence of the drowseperiod and the need to reset the controls are more easily recalled whenthe radio has come on automatically, probably since the user is.accustomed to resetting the controls after automatic operation.

With this in mind, it is an object of the present invention to provide aclock-controlled switch having a drowse mechanism which will increasecustomer ac ceptance of clock radios and the like by avoidinginadvertent operation of the switch-controlled device.

More specifically, it is an object to provide a switch of the above typewhose drowse mechanism is inoperative. when the switch is manuallyoperated, or, otherwise stated, to provide -a drowse mechanism that iseffective only when the switch is operated through the clock mechanismautomatically.

It is also an object to provide a switch mechanism as characterizedabove which is simple in design and well suited for economical,high-volume production.

Other advantages of the present invention will become more aparent fromthe reading of the detailed decription provided below, taken inconjunction with the appended drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an elevation of a face of a clock mechanism embodying theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of a portion of the mechanism shown inFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom view of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows the mechanism of FIG. 2 when the clock is conditioned forautomatic or AUTO operation;

3,207,865 Patented Sept. 21, 1965 FIG. 5 illustrates the mechanismconditioned as in FIG. 4 with the drowse operator actuated;

FIG. 6 illustrates the mechanism of FIG. 2 as it appears upon manuallyclosing the switch by setting the indicator on the face of FIG. 1 to ON;and

FIG. 7 illustrates the mechanism of FIG. 6 after actuating the drowseoperator.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications andalternative constructions, certain illustrative embodiments have beenshown in the drawings and will be described below in considerabledetail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intention tolimit the invention to the specific forms disclosed, but, on thecontrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, alternativeconstructions and equivalents falling within the spirit and scope of theinvention as expressed in the appended claims.

Referring now to the appended drawings wherein like numerals designatelike parts, a clock mechanism 10 of the type which is cooperable with anelectric switch for selectively operating the same is indicated, whichembodies the invention in one of its forms. The mechanism 10 includes atram 10a carrying a clock face 11 having conventional hour, minute, andsecond hands rotatable over the usual indicia on the clockface. A timersetting indicator 12 is also provided. The associated switch may beconditioned for manual or automatic operation, and a selector 13 isprovided for this purpose, conveniently positioned in protruding fashionfrom the clockface. A manipulator 14, having a serrated periphery and apointer, is provided on the selector for fingertip control of theselector switch between the operative positions of ON, OFF, and AUTO,which are visually indicated on the face 11 about the manipulator.

Referring more particularly to FIGS. 2 and 3, the clockworks is operatedby a drive motor (not shown) which preferably is of the synchronous typethat drives, through appropriate reduction gearing, the hands of themechanism 10. For purposes of the present disclosure, it will besufficient to identify only a minute wheel 15 which drives and rotateswith the minute hand of the mechanism and an alarm trip gear 16 togetherwith its associated alarm-setting gear 17. The wheel 15 and gears 16, 17are, of course, conventional elements of a timing mechanism of thistype, as will be appreciated by those familiar with the art.

The mechanism 10 includes an electric switch 20 which is of simple andeconomical construction, comprising a set of contact points 21, 22 in aBakelite or similar casing 23. One of the contacts 22 is cantilevermounted and movable into and out of contact with the other, which isrigid relative to the frame 10a. External connectors '24, leading insidethe casing to the contacts, are provided for attaching any desiredelectrical circuit through the switch. A radio is one convenient exampleand will be used here to describe the invention as it is used in oneexemplary structure.

As previously noted, the electrical switch 20 is conditioned by the userfor either manual operation or automatic operation, in reponse to thetiming mechanism, by the selector 13. To this end, the selector, whichin the illustrated construction is a relatively long, stamped, sheetmetal piece extending through the clockface 11, is provided with a pairof transverse projections 26, 27 which extend from the longitudinal axisof the selector. As a means of maintaining the selctor 13 in theposition set by the user, small bosses 28 are provided on the back sideof the clockface 11 in the path of one of the projections 26. Aprotuberance 29 is formed on the inner edge of the projection, in linewith the bosses 28 so that additional eifort is required to move theprojection over the bosses. The selector is biased by a spring 30 in adirection to resist movement thereof over the bosses, thus creating adetent action to maintain the selector in the position it is placed bythe user.

The selector 13 controls the switch 20 through a switch operator 32which, in its exemplary form, is a relatively long thin member,economically punched from fiberboard or the like. The operator 32 isbiased normally downward and toward the face of the clock (as seen inany of FIGS. 4-7) by a cantilever spring 33 which is anchored at one endin the frame a. The operator passes through openings provided in theswitch casing 23 where it engages the cantilevered contact as seen inFIGS. 4-7. The axial position of the operator determines whether thecontacts are open or closed and the downwardly acting bias effect of thespring 33 on the operator 32 urges the switch contacts into normallyclosed relationship. The spring 33 passes through a transverselyelongated slot 34 in the operator provided for the purpose, and is thusprovided with some limited freedom of movement in the direction of itsinward bias, without affecting the operator.

The selector 13 is adapted to establish the base position of theoperator 32 for each mode of operation of the device, i.e., ON, OFF, andAUTO, by acting on the operator bias spring 33. In the OFF position,which is established by turning the selector to OFF as indicated on theclockface, the selector projection 27 bears against the cantileverspring 33 in a direction opposite its normal downward bias so as to movethe operator to a position higher than normal, in which the contacts areseparated and the switch is held open. With the operator 32 sopositioned, a latch 35 is engaged to hold the operation in switch openposition (see FIG. 2). Preferably, the latch 35 is formed by aprojection on the operator 32 which is snapped into a slot in the frame100 under the inward biasing force of the spring 33.

In the ON position, which is attained by a counterclockwise rotation ofthe manipulator 14 as seen in FIG. 1, the projection 27 is moved in anarc to the right as seen in FIGS. 4-7, away from a position of influenceon the spring; and the projection 26 is rotated upward, in behind, andpast the spring 33 so as to push the spring toward the rear of themechanism. This tilts the operator 32 and releases the latch 35 with theresult that the normal downward bias of the spring 33 acts upon theoperator to move it downward from the OFF position to an ON position inwhich the contacts are closed.

The third position of the mechanism is the AUTO or automatic position inwhich the switch is conditioned for operation by the associated timingdevice. Thus, the radio may be automatically turned on at apredetermined time which may be set, in this instance as much as twelve(12) hours before, by setting the position of the timer hand 12. As theselector 13 is rotated to the AUTO position, it will be apparent thatthe selector must move from, or through, the OFF position which, as wasexplained above, causes the latch 35 to become engaged. When theselector assumes the AUTO position, both projection-s 26, 27 are clearof the spring 33 leaving the operator latched in OFF position againstthe bias of the spring 33.

To unlatch the operator 32 and operate the switch 20 at a preselectedtime, the operator is formed with a longitudinal finger 36 which extendsupward to a position adjacent the trip gear 16. As is conventional, thegears 16, 17 have cooperating axially extending cam portions with thesetting gear 17 being angularly positionable together with the indicator12 while the trip gear 16 rotates with the hour hand of the mechanism10. When the hour hand and the indicator 12 coincide, the cam portion-son the gears 16, 17 force the trip gear 16 against the finger 36 so asto tilt the operator and release the latch 35. Thus, the switch 20 isoperated at the preselected time shown by the indicator 12.

All of the above-described structure and modes of operation arediscussed in greater detail in the previously 4 cited Patent No.3,068,331, to which reference may be had.

As previously noted, the present invention is primarily concerned with aclock-controlled switch of the type described, which includes a drowsemechanism for temporarily interrupting the operation of the switch for apredetermined length of time. Thus, in the present device, a drowsemechanism 40 is provided which includes a drowse lever 41 having agenerally crescent-shaped profile and which is suitably stamped fromsheet metal. The lever is pivotally mounted on a shaft 42 fixed in theframe 10a and is biased by a torsion spring 43 against a stop pin 44which establishes a rest or inactive position for the lever, shown inFIG. 4. A pawl 45 is pivoted at 46 on the lever 41 and is biased by atensioned spring 47 toward the periphery of the minute wheel 15. Withthe lever 41 in its rest position, a cam portion 48 on the pawl 45engages the stop pin 44. The force of the spring 43 exceeds the force ofthe spring 47 so that the pawl is swung clockwise, as seen in FIGS. 4-7,to a disabled position well clear of the minute wheel 15.

The drowse mechanism 40 is actuated by a convenient manually operableactuator 49 which is mounted, in this instance, on pins 49a forreciprocal movement against the lever 41. Depressing the actuator 49rotates the lever 41 about its pivot shaft 42 counterclockwise againstthe bias of the spring 43.

This rotation of the lever 41 carries the cam portion 48 of the pawl 45clear of the stop pin 44 so that the spring 47 snaps the pawl intodrawing engagement with the gear teeth of the minute wheel 15 (see FIG.5). Upon release of the actuator 49, the lever 41 remains propped by thepawl 45 in its activated, FIG. 5, position until the constantly drivenminute wheel 15 rotates out from under the pawl,'turning the pawl in aclockwise direction. As the minute wheel returns the pawl 45 toapproximately its disabled, FIG. 4, position and the teeth of the wheelslip past and release the pawl, the torsion spring 43 snaps the lever 41and the pawl into their disabled positions clear of the minute wheel.This preferably requires about ten minutes and establishes the drowseinterval of the mechanism 40. Since the pawl 45 is completely clear ofthe minute wheel 15 when in disabled position, there is no annoyingclocking noise, as is associated with an idling ratchet.

In keeping with the invention, the drowse mechanism 40 is renderedeffective only when the selector is in the AUTO position. To this end, awishbone lever 50, formed of resilient material, is pivotally mounted atthe intersection of its legs 53 and 56 on a pin 51 fastened to the frame10a. The lever is positioned at one side of the electrical switch 20 sothat the legs 53, 56 appear to straddle the casing 23.

The lower leg 53 of the wishbone lever (as viewed in FIGS. 47) isprovided with a tab 54 in close proximity to the selector 13. A thirdprojection 55 on the selector 13 is adapted to bear against the tab 54when it is moved to the AUTO position. The projection acts on the tab 54as the selector is moved from the OFF position, urging the same upward,and, accordingly, the lever clockwise about its pivot.

The upper leg 56 of the wishbone lever presents a flat spatulalike endportion 57 that is parallel to the axis of the lever 50 so as to provideresilience in the plane in which the lever 50 rotates. When the selector13 is moved to AUTO position, the end portion 57 is urged toward a nose58 at the lower end of the drowse lever 41. With the lever 41 in itsdisabled, FIG. 4, position, the portion 57 is deflected by the nose 58so as to slightly compress the legs 53, 56. With the lever 41 in itsabled or active, FIG. 5, position, the nose 58 clears the portion 57 sothat the lever leg 56 can straighten out.

In order that the wishbone lever 50 be able to effect the position ofthe operator 32 when not restricted in its movement by the nose 58 ofthe drowse cam, a relatively rigid wire 59 is mounted on a pin in theframe a so as to be freely rotatable about the pin. The wire 59 extendsthrough a hole in the operator 32 to a position overlying the endportion 57 of the lever 56 while being laterally spaced from and clearof the lever 41. The wire 59 thus floats with the operator 32 exceptwhen the drowse lever 41 is actuated and the selector 13 is in AUTOposition, the condition of the parts shown in FIG. 5. In this situation,the portion 57 of the lever 50 lifts the wire 59 so as to raise theoperator 32 and hold the switch contacts open.

Operation of the drowse mechanism 40 can now be readily appreciated.Turning the selector to the AUTO position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 causesthe projection 55 to bear against the tab 54 and swing the lever 50clockwise. With the drowse lever 41 in disabled position against thestop pin 44, the portion 57 of the lever 50 engages and is held indeflected position by the nose 58 of the lever 41 (see FIG. 4). Movementof the wire 59 is thus unaffected by the drowse mechanism parts and, atthe time determined by the gears 16, 17, the operator 32 is unlatchedand drawn downwardly by the spring 33 so as to close the contacts of theswitch and energize the radio with which the mechanism 10 has beenassumed to be associated.

If the user desires to temporarily de-energiZ-e the radio through adrowse period, the actuator 49 is depressed so as to swing the lever 41counterclockwise to its abled or actuated position. The pawl 45 is freedfrom the pin 44 and snaps into engagement with the teeth of the minutewheel 15, thus propping the lever 41 in its abled FIG. 5 position untilrotation of the minute wheel timesout the drowse mechanism and returnsthe parts to their FIG. 4 position. With the drowse lever 41 swungcounterclockwise, the nose 58 clears and thus releases the portion 57 ofthe lever 50, whereupon the upper leg 56 of the lever 50 lifts the wire39 to shift the operator 32 against the bias of the spring 33 and openthe contacts of the switch 20. The drowse period is thus initiated andthe radio remain-s de-energized until the mechanism 40 times-out and theparts return to their FIG. 4 position, in which the portion 57 of thewishbone lever 50 is held deflected and out of contact with the wire 59by the nose 58 of the drowse lever 41.

When the selector 13 is rotated to ON position, shown in FIGS. 6 and 7,the upward force on the tab 54 is relaxed so that the lever 50 dropsfreely in a counterclockwise direction to the position shown in FIG. 6wherein the portion 57 is not restrained against upward movement by thenose 58 of the drowse lever. As a result, depression of the actuator 46to swing the lever 41 to its abled, FIG. 7, position has no effect onthe switch 20. Since the contacts of the switch are closed upon movementof the selector 13 to the ON position (see FIG. 6), the contacts remainclosed during the timing-out period of the mechanism 40 (see FIG. 7).

Thus, it is seen that the mechanism 10 contains all of the features ofcomparable devices including ON, OFF, and AUTO operation, with theaddition of a drowse feature. Of particular importance is the fact thatdrowse operation is possible only in the AUTO condition of operation.All of these features are attained through the use of a few parts whichcan economically be made and assembled using standard manufacturingtechniques.

We claim as our invention:

1. A switch comprising, in combination, a frame, a movable contact and afixed contact each anchored relative to said frame, a switch operatorcoupled to said movable contact, said operator being movable relative tosaid frame so as to open and close said contacts, means for latchingsaid operator to hold said contacts open, means for unlatching saidoperator and closing said contacts, a control member coupled to saidoperator and being movably mounted in said frame between a firstposition, wherein said operator closes said contacts, and a secondposition which latches said operator, a resilient element pivoted onsaid frame for movement between abled and disabled positions, saidelement exerting a resilient force when in abled position to hold saidoperator in contacts open position and being clear of said operator whenin disabled position, said control member having an abutment forswinging said resilient element between abled and disabled positionsupon movement of the member between said second and first positionsrespectively, a lever shiftably mounted on said frame for movement froma rest position to an operated position wherein said lever is returnedto its rest position over a timed interval, and a manual control on saidframe for shifting said lever and thus initiating said timed interval,said lever being positioned when in said rest position to deflect saidresilient element and prevent said force exertion on said operator, saidlever, when shifted from said rest position, clearing said element so asto permit said contacts to be held open for said timed interval whensaid element is abled and said control operated.

2. In a switch operating timer, the combination comprising, a frame, aswitch mounted on said frame, a switch operator coupled to said switchand being shiftably mounted on said frame between a first position inwhich the operator holds the switch open and a second position in whichthe operator holds the switch closed, means on said frame for latchingsaid operator in said first position, clock-controlled means on saidframe for unlatching said operator at a preselected time, means on saidframe including a rotatable control member for (1) holding said operatorin said first position when said control member is in one angularposition (2) holding said operation in said second position when saidcontrol member is in a second angular position and (3) latching saidcontrol member and biasing it for movement to said second position whensaid control member is in a third angular position, a lever shiftablymounted on said frame for movement from a rest position to a position inengagement with said clock-controlled means which returns the lever tosaid rest position, and means on said frame interposed between saidlever and said member for shifting said operator to said first positiononly when the lever is shifted from its rest position and said member isin said third position.

3. In a switch operating timer, the combination comprising, a frame, aswitch mounted on said frame, clockcontrolled means on said framecoupled to said switch for operating the switch at a preselected time, amechanism on said frame coupled to said switch and selectivelyengageable with said clock-controlled means for interrupting operationof said switch for a timed interval, means including a control memberfor manually operat' ing said switch, and means operated by said controlmember for disabling said mechanism when the switch is manuallyoperated.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,996,874 8/61Chartier et a1. 58-2112 3,004,380 10/61 Sidell et al 58-21.12 [3,068,33112/62 Morrison et al 200-38 3,086,351 4/63 Boyles 200-38 3,109,280 11/63Ring et al. 200-38 X BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Primary Examiner.

3. IN A SWITCH OPERATING TIMER, THE COMBINATION COMPRISING, A FRAME, ASWITCH MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME, CLOCKCONTROLLED MEANS ON SAID FRAMECOUPLED TO SAID SWITCH FOR OPERATING THE SWITCH AT A PRESELECTED TIME, AMECHANISN ON SAID FRAME COUPLED TO SAID SWITCH AND SELECTIVELYENGAGEABLE WITH SAID CLOCK-CONTROLLED MEANS FOR INTERRUPTING OPERATIONOF SAID SWITCH FOR A TIMED INTERVAL, MEANS INCLUDING A CONTROL MEMBERFOR MANUALLY OPERATING SAID SWITCH, AND MEANS OPERATED BY SAID CONTROLMEM-